Detonator



' J. D. JORDAN DETONATOR Jan. 4, 1949.

Filed Jan. 26, 1943 FIG. I.

R\\0 2 0 3, 0 a Z 2 Z I 3 5 G 3 I II. F 2 4 2 3 INVENTOR v JAMES 0;JORDAN Patented Jan. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES ?AT ENT QFFiQE DETONATORJames D. Jordan, Washington, D. C., assignor to the United States ofAmerica as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application January26, 1943, Serial No. 473,650

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to detonators for explosive, projectiles and hasparticular reference to a novel detonator having two independentlyoperable detonating means included in a unitary construction.

One object of the invention resides in the provision of a noveldetonator for projectiles which includes both mechanically andelectrically operable detonating means mounted in a single body. Thebody is preferably of cylindrical shape, whereby it may be readilymounted in the usual cylindrical casing of the projectile, and is formedwith a chamber for receiving an electrically operable squib. The body isalso provided with a bore communicating with the chamber, and a recessin the front end of the body communicates with the bore. A detonatingcharge is disposed in the bore, and the recess contains a mechanicallyactuated explosive device, such as a fulminate cap, for firing thecharge in the bore. The squib is adapted to be fired electricallythrough a detonating circuit which may be closed automatically by aradio apparatus in the projectile in response to proximity of a target.The body of the detonator is preferably mounted in the projectile to therear of a clockwork mechanism, as shown in the above identifiedapplication, so that the mechanically actuated explosive device is inline with a firing pin operable by the clockwork mechanism. With thisconstruction, if the radio apparatus or other automatic means shouldfail to fire the squib electrically, the explosive device is actuated bythe firing pin to set off the detonating charge and thereby explode theprojectile. Thus, the

detonator of my invention includes both a main 3 detonating element andan independently operable auxiliary detonating element which serves as asafety device to insure explosion of the projectile in its flight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detonator of simple andcompact construction which may be fired either electrically or, in theevent of failure of the electrical means, by a mechanically operableelement.

These and other objects of the invention may be better understood byreference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinalsectional view of part of a projectile embodying one form of the newdetonator;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the detonator shownin Fig. 1, and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views on the lines 3--3, 4-4 and 55,respectively, in Fig. 2'.

In the drawing, the numeral [0 designates an 2 explosive projectilecomprising a casing H and a nose |2 threaded in the front end of thecasing. The explosive charge (not shown) in the casing is adapted to bedetonated electrically upon closing of a normally open switch 13 whichmay be actuated automatically by a radio apparatus (not shown) inresponse to proximity of the projectile to a target, as disclosed in theabove-identified application of M. A. Tuve et al. The switch I3, asshown, is connected in series with a battery I4 and the detonator l5 ofmy invention through wires l6 and IT. A clockwork mechanism I8 ismounted in the projectile casing in front of the detonator and isadapted to operate a firing pin I8a. at a predetermined time intervalafter the projectile is fired, the clockwork mechanism having suitableadjusting means for varying the time interval.

The detonator l5 comprises a cylindrical body 20 having a generallycircular opening 2| extending through its central portion. A web 22projects into the opening from one side of the body and abuts again-stan electrically operable squib 23 extending across the opening at rightangles to the Web. The squib 23 is seated at its ends in suitablerecesses in the body and is provided with terminals 24 and 24a.

A detonating charge 26 is disposed in a central bore in the web 22, thebore being inclined rearwardly toward the squib 23 and communicating atits inner end with the opening 2|. At its outer end, the bore opens intoa recess 2'! in the front end of the body 20. A mechanically operableexplosive device, such as a fulminate cap 28, is seated in the bore 21in line with the firing pin |8a of the clockwork mechanism. The body 20may be provided on its opposite faces with cover plates 30 and 3|, therear plate 3| having an explosion discharge opening 32 and an opening 33through which the wires I6 and IT extend into the squib chamber 2|. Fromthe chamber 2|, the wires extend through suitable routes 33 in the bodyto the squib terminals 24 and 24a.

In operation, when the switch I3 is closed, the squib 23 is energizedelectrically through the circuit including battery I4, with the resultthat the detonator explodes through opening 32 in the rear cover plateand fires the usual booster (not shown) to the rear of the detonator. Inthe event that the squib 23 should fail to operate for any reason, suchas failure of the radio means for closing the switch It, the clockworkmechanism l8 operates the firing pin |8a after a predetermined timeinterval, whereupon the fulminate cap 28 is fired and sets all thedetonating charge 3 26. The latter then explodes through the inner endof its bore into the chamber 2| and through the rear cover plate 3! tothe booster.

It will be apparent that the detonator of my invention occupies arelatively small space and may be readily mounted in the projectilecasing. The housing 26 contains two independently operable detonatingmeans which are so disposed that neither one interferes with theoperation of the other. The web 22 serves not only to house theauxiliary detonating charge 26 but also to lend lateral support to theelectrically operable squib in the chamber 2|.

I claim:

1. In a detonator, a body having an opening, an electrically operablesquib extending across the opening and seated at its ends in the body, aweb extending transversely from one side of the body into the openingand abutting at its free end against the squib, the web having a boreperpendicular to and communicating at one end with the opening and atthe other end with a recess in the body, a detonating charge in thebore, and a mechanically operable explosive device in the recess forfiring said charge.

2. In a detonator, a body having an opening, an electrically operablesquib extending across the opening and. seated at its ends in the body,a Web extending transversely from one side of the body into the openingand abutting at its free end against the squib to support the squib, theweb having a bore inclined inwardly from the front face of the body tothe rear face thereof, the bore being perpendicular to and communicatingat its rear end with said opening and at its front end with a recess inthe body, a detonating charge in the bore, and a mechanically operableexplosive device in the recess for firing said charge.

JAMES D. JORDAN.

REFERENCES CEI'ED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Wright Apr. 12, 1921Number

